Roundtable

Today is D day. The roundtable day.

No, the table does not need to be round. It can square or rectangular or whatever. It's just literally saying that this is D day where the supervisors, managers, senior managers, directors and managers (aka SUPERIORS and COUNCILLORS) will discuss on who to promote. The ultimate decision is theirs. This roundtable will be chaired by a SUPERIOR/ULTIMATE COUNCILLOR who will then ask something like....

"OK Person A. Who has worked for this Person?"

Several Superiors/Councillors will each raise their hands even if they've worked for them for a short period of time (that is, if they still remember). Minimum engagement needed is more than 40 hours.

I hate this day. Reason being?

There will be this LOOK....

The look that other managers who have not even worked for you will recognise you after the roundtable when they bump into you be it in the lift, cafeteria or whatever.

I've never been in this roundtable if you ask me. But I can imagine the GOSSIP (the Superiors call it FEEDBACK) that they will be discussing in the roundtable about a certain staff. For example,

Superior A will say:

"I've worked for this person. She's committed, finish her work, but she does not know how to manage her time."

Superior B:

"I disagree. She's worked for me. But she meets deadlines."

Superior C:

"I agree what Superior A says."

Superior D:

"I agree to disagree."

Hence, the CHAIR will be the JUDGE. Decision is in his hands. He's like the JUDGE with the hammer. Difference is, there's no hammer in audit firm. Hence, the VERDICT:

"I hereby DECIDE that she's ready/not ready to be promoted."

Thereafter, the rating will follow suit. Finalised and given to HR. HR will give the final rating. RESULT:

Rating 3 and below? No bonus. No increment. No whatever. Title still the same. Either improve the next year, or GET OUT! It's like a nice way of saying: You're not worth staying in audit firm. You're fired but i prefer you to stay so that you're experienced enough to handle additional workload. You work hard for nothing.

Rating 3 and non-promotion? Receive bonus like everybody. Receive increment. But title still the same. They think you're not ready to promote but you've worked hard enough to receive the bonus. Either improve the next year, or you're just remain the same. Forever and ever.

Rating 3 and above? Receive bonus, increment and promotion to the next level.

Rating 4.5 and above? Receive bonus, increment, promotion to the next level and extra money due to performance. Superiors have to justify why this particular staff is given high rating. 1 more thing, you will receive recognition or so called "POWER STAFF". Everyone wants you. Managers want to book you. Partners want you to be a partner.

So basically that's it. That's the Roundtable story which I hate. I hate today. But do I care? I am resigning anyway, like it or not. So yeah, whatever....